How to configure an iPad for wakesys (settings checklist)

Before an iPad goes on the floor — especially a guest-facing one (waiver station, on-site sign-up, or the customer screen) — change a few iOS settings so it stays on, stays clean, and stays in the wakesys app.

Settings paths can vary slightly by iPadOS version. On newer iPadOS, per-app settings live under Settings → Apps (e.g. Settings → Apps → Safari).

1. Brightness to maximum

• Settings → Display & Brightness → drag the Brightness slider all the way up.
• Turn off auto-brightness so it doesn't dim: Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Auto-Brightness (off).

2. Stop the screen from switching off

• Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never.
• Keep the iPad plugged into power at the station.

3. Turn off autofill (no saved passwords, names, addresses, or cards)

• Settings → General → AutoFill & Passwords (or Settings → Passwords → Password Options) → turn off AutoFill Passwords.
• Settings → Safari → AutoFill → turn off Use Contact Info and Credit Cards (and Names/Passwords).

This keeps one guest's details from being suggested to the next guest.

4. Turn off autocomplete and autocorrect

• Settings → General → Keyboard → turn off Auto-Correction, Predictive (Show Predictions), and Smart Punctuation.

So names and emails are typed exactly as entered, with no surprise corrections.

5. Remove the emoji keyboard

• Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Edit → remove Emoji.

This stops guests from putting emojis into names or other fields.

6. Turn on Guided Access (lock the iPad to wakesys)

Guided Access keeps guests inside the wakesys app so they can't browse away or change settings.

1. Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access → turn it on.
2. Open Passcode Settings and set a Guided Access passcode — we recommend 000000. It only controls exiting the app, so a simple, consistent code across all your iPads keeps things easy for staff.
3. Open the wakesys app, then triple-click the top button (or Home button on older iPads).
4. Tap Start. To exit later, triple-click again and enter the passcode.

Quick checklist

• Brightness max, auto-brightness off
• Auto-Lock → Never, plugged into power
• AutoFill (passwords, contacts, cards) off
• Auto-Correction / Predictive / Smart Punctuation off
• Emoji keyboard removed
• Guided Access on, locked to wakesys

Do this for each iPad ahead of opening day — see Recommended hardware for the devices and stands we recommend, and How to set up wakesys on your iPads for adding the app to the Home Screen.